Sausage & Crescent Roll Breakfast Casserole

My sister in law made these for some family function or another. They are so good, it's like biscuits and cheesy gravy in a bar form. They are convenient for big groups, delicious and super easy to make (only 3 ingredients!).

Pillsbury makes the coolest thing. Crescent roll dough in one sheet! Think of all the possibilities!

Stuff it with a cream cheese and sausage mixture

Add another dough sheet and bake until golden brown. 

Make these. They are so good. And so easy, you have not reason not to. 

Sausage & Crescent Roll Casserole

1 lb of sausage ( I recommend Hot or Maple)
8oz package of Cream Cheese
2 rolls of Seamless Crescent Roll Dough

Cook sausage, add cream cheese into warm pan until incorporated. Lay dough in ungreased 9X13 pan. Top with sausage mixture and layer with another dough sheet. Bake at 350 for 20-25 min. Eat warm!

One Tasty Salad

Do you remember when you used to go play at a friends house and you were there around dinner and so the mom would invite you to stay? And then you would have to borrow the phone (house phones of course) and call your mom and ask if you could stay for dinner. Good times.

This recipe reminds me of eating at my childhood friend's house. They used to have this salad at almost every meal. To be honest, it was good, but not my favorite as a kid. But as I got older and wiser, I really came to love it. What really makes this salad is the dressing. It is simple, easy to adapt to your tastes and very healthy. Give it a go.

Salad:
1 head Red or Green Leaf Lettuce (chopped)
1- 2 tomatoes, large dice
1 avocado, sliced
1/8 red onion, thinly sliced

Dressing:
1 Tbsp lemon juice (FRESH!)
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 tsp red wine vinegar
2 tsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp garlic salt
2 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp black pepper

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers

These guys are one tasty treat. Salty bacon, sweet cream cheese, spicy jalapenos, crunchy breadcrumbs. It's a winning combo.

Easy Version:

Stuff cream cheese in hollowed out jalapenos. Wrap some bacon around it. Bake it. Yum

Fancy, Detailed Version:

Ingredients:

10 Jalapenos, tops chopped off and seeds hollowed out (to reduce heat)

1 8oz block of cream cheese

1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese

3/4 cup Italian breadcrumbs

1 lb bacon, cut in to 1/2 strips

toothpicks to hold bacon on

Mix together cream cheese, cheddar and any salt and pepper if you want it. Spread mixture into hollow jalapenos, don't over stuff or it will ooze everywhere. 

Dip jalapeno cream cheese side down into a shallow dish of bread crumbs. Wrap 1/2 piece of bacon around jalapeno, covering as much as possible. Stick with a toothpick to make it all hold together. 

Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes until bacon is cooked thoroughly, maybe even a little crispy. For extra delicious taste: cook on a smoker or a grill. 

Stuffed Mushrooms

Stuffed Mushrooms are awesome, for people who love mushrooms and even for people who don't. Because they are delicious. And so very versatile! You can put all sorts of meats or vegetables in their depending on your personal preferences. So here it is, your guideline to making stuffed mushrooms.

Ingredients:
1 lb mushrooms, any kind. Washed and stems removed. Stems chopped and set aside.
8oz cream cheese
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup cheese (parmesan, swiss, feta, havarti etc)
1/2 lb meat (sausage and bacon are wonderful choices)
1/4 onion, diced
1 tsp garlic
1 cup spinach, or kale or something similar, chopped
Optional: 1 tsp cayanne powder, 1/2 chopped jalapeno for heat

In a large bowl combine cream cheese, bread crumbs and other cheese (using a hand mixer might be good).
Cook meat until done, add garlic and onions until soft.
Add hot meat, spinach and any spices to cream cheese mixture and mix thoroughly.
Spoon mixture into mushroom caps and mold into dome.
Sprinkle with cheese.
Bake mushroom caps at 400 degrees face up until juices pool beneath mushrooms, about 12-14 minutes.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

I really like hot wings. Not the burn your stomach, can't breath or taste for the next day, send you to the emergency room type hot wings.Those are just silly. But I like a nice, spicy wing that makes my mouth burn for a bit but still has good flavor. My favorite place to go for these perfect wings is Jim's Wings in Ft Collins. We learned a few years ago from a secret source that they use Frank's Ret Hot Sauce for their wings and ever since then, that is the only sauce I use. Frank's website has a great Buffalo Chicken Dip that I decided to try as part of our Superbowl menu. It turned out fantastic.

Buffalo Chicken Dip
adapted from Frank's Red Hot

8oz package cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup ranch dressing
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup to 1 cup Frank's Red Hot Sauce (depending on how spicy you want it)
1 chicken breast, cooked and shredded


Combine all ingredients in saucepan and cook until heated through and cheese is melted.
Or
Combine all ingredients in large bowl and mix well. Pour into casserole dish or pan and bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Serve warm with celery stick and chips.

Warm Crab Dip



One of my favorite things about New Years is this dip. I like the games and the counting down and so on. But New Years food is my favorite. Shrimp and cocktails, Sparkling Cider, and of course crackers and dip. It is an easy dish that will transport well to your next holiday party.



Hot Crab Dip

1 can white shredded crabmeat (6-8 oz) drain off liquid and run water trough to get rid of
fishy taste and smell
8 oz. cream cheese (softened)
¾ c. mayonnaise or greek yogurt
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
2 Tablespoons finely chopped onion
1 beaten egg
Salt and pepper to taste
Dash of Worcestershire sauce (optional)
1 teaspoon horseradish (optional)

Combind all ingredients together and pour into dish (ramekin, quiche dish, pie pan). Bake at 325 degrees for 25- 30 minutes. Serve warm with crackers.